Journalist held overnight in police station following publication of article about links between security forces and organised crime
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders condemns the arrest of Noureddine Boukraa, the national daily “Ennahar”‘s bureau chief in the city of Annaba (600 km east of Algiers), who was detained on 12 November 2007 in connection with an article about alleged corruption within the local security services and was held overnight. “Algeria’s journalists are not […]
Controversial book by independent journalist banned
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is a 2 November 2007 IFJ media release: IFJ Condemns Action by Algeria to Ban Book by Jailed Independent Journalist The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the banning at a book fair in Algeria of the controversial book Jailhouses of Algiers (Les geôles d’Alger) by journalist Mohamed Benchicou, a […]
Journalist sentenced to jail; another summoned on defamation charges; a third harassed by authorities for critical reporting
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release: IFJ Condemns Wave of Attacks on Journalists in Algeria The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned a wave of recent attacks on journalists in Algeria, particularly in the Djelfa, where journalists are being charged under the penal code for press offences. “The Algerian government use […]
Blogger charged with criminal defamation for criticising official
(HRinfo/IFEX) – The Algerian government must drop the defamation charge against blogger “Abd el Salam Baroudy”, administrator of the “Bilad Telmesan” blog ( http://bilad-13.maktoobblog.com ), for criticizing an official in an article published in February 2007. Baroudy is scheduled to face the Telmesan First Degree Court on 11 June 2007. In his article, Baroudy criticized […]
Two “El Watan” journalists receive two-month prison sentences in libel case; another manhandled, placed under investigation
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is outraged at the two-month prison sentences imposed on two “El Watan” journalists in a libel case on 27 May 2007 and said it was concerned about the verdict that is due to be issued by an Algiers criminal court on 30 May in the case of Arezki Aït-Larbi, the […]
Polisario Front briefly detains two Australian filmmakers at refugee camp
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has deplored the action of the Polisario Front’s security services in briefly detaining Australian documentary filmmakers Violeta Ayala and Daniel Fallshaw during the first week of May 2007 near the Rabouni refugee camp, 25 km from Tindouf in southwestern Algeria. “Western Sahara under Moroccan control and the refugee camps in […]
Journalist detained at Algiers airport, another given one-year sentence for tax fraud
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has called for an end to the political and legal harassment of two journalists – Arezki Aït-Larbi, the correspondent of the French dailies “Le Figaro” and “Ouest France”, and Saad Lounès, the former editor of the daily “El Ouma” – that has been going on for years. “We are no […]
Appeals court suspends prison sentences for two journalists sued by Gaddafi for defamation
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders voiced relief at an Algiers appeals court’s decision on 4 April 2007 to give two journalists suspended sentences of six months in prison and a fine of 50,000 dinars (approx. 530 euros) instead of the 12-month jail terms and fine of 500,000 dinars (approx. 5,300 euros) requested by the prosecutor. […]
Heavy sentence sought on appeal in defamation case against two journalists
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is dismayed by the heavy sentence sought on appeal against Ali Fodil and Naïla Berrahal, respectively managing editor and journalist on the Arabic-language daily “Ech-Chourouk”, for allegedly defaming Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi. On 21 March 2007, the prosecutor at the Algiers appeal court called for a one-year prison sentence and […]
Dubious charges used to silence outspoken human rights lawyers; government bans conference on issue of disappeared
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 20 February 2007 Human Rights Watch press release: Algeria: Human Rights Lawyers Tried on Dubious Charges (Brussels, February 20, 2007) – Algerian authorities should drop politically motivated charges against two human rights lawyers when their trial resumes on Wednesday, Human Rights Watch said today. Amine Sidhoum and Hassiba Boumerdassi […]
Journalists get three months in prison for accusing prefect of corruption
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has condemned the three-month prison sentences passed by a court in eastern city of Jijel on 25 December 2006 on Omar Belhouchet, editor of the daily “El Watan”, and Chawki Amari, one of his journalists, for “libelling” the local prefect in an article last June accusing him of corruption. They […]
In Algeria, two journalists sentenced to six months in prison for defaming Libyan president
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders protested that a court in Algiers had acted to protect Algeria’s diplomatic relations with Libya by sentencing two journalists to six months in prison and a fine equivalent to 220 euros after Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi sued them for libel. On 31 October 2006, the court in the eastern city […]
RSF dismayed over authorities’ growing use of bureaucratic pretexts to obstruct journalists’ work
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has said it was dismayed at the Algerian authorities’ growing use of bureaucratic pretexts to obstruct the work of Algerian journalists. Since summer 2006, French-Algerian journalist Lakhdar Khelfawi and Algerian journalist Arezki Aït-Larbi have been banned from leaving the country after the authorities resurrected old charges against them dating back […]
President pardons all journalists convicted of defamation or insulting state institutions
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has hailed President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s decision to issue a pardon on Algeria’s independence day, 5 July 2006, for all journalists convicted of defamation or insulting state institutions, but urged him to carry out reforms. “President Bouteflika’s pardon suggests he would like to make a fresh start, but we call […]
Press freedom at risk despite release of editor, says Human Rights Watch
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Algeria: Press Freedom at Risk Despite Release of Editor (Brussels, June 14, 2006) – Despite the welcome release from prison expected today for newspaper director Mohamed Benchicou, critics of Algeria’s government continue to risk reprisal in the form of a barrage of defamation suits […]
Journalist pressured by police to reveal sources
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an abridged translation of a 31 March 2006 IFJ media release: The FIJ condemns use of police pressure to force a journalist to reveal his sources Bussels, 31 March 2006 The IFJ condemns the arrest and the detention over several hours of Mourad Mahamed, a journalist with the daily “El […]